Wednesday, December 24, 2008 Children’s Games close with high hopes
THE inaugural Community Children’s Games ended yesterday, accomplishing the vital goal that Philippine Sports Commission Fr. Vic Uy had in mind—open opportunities for kids.
“I want this to open opportunities for them. We want to discover potential athletes and put the limelight on them to make it possible for them to attract the attention of some of the big universities, which could give them athletic scholarships,” said Uy, the brains behind the Children’s Games.
The games are for barangay-based teams, whose athletes did not have the chance to compete in sporting meets, which are usually school-based.
Uy did not falter as one athlete caught the attention of many—Vanessa Fuentes, of Barangay Apas, who, despite being a first-timer in sporting meets, was a multiple gold medal winner in the two-day competition.
Fuentes swept the gold medals in the 100-meter, 200-meter run and the long jump events. It was a success story for Fuentes, a 12-year-old from Dapitan who moved to Cebu three years ago when her father died.
She was at first scared to try the sport because she was intimidated by the city girls. But once she took her post in the starting line, there was no stopping her.
Encouragement
The athletic director for the University of Cebu (UC), Bernard Ricablanca, encouraged her to continue her training and try out for UC, which is considered Cebu’s powerhouse in athletics. “She should continue her training and she can try out for the team if she wants,” said Ricablanca.
“This (Children’s Games) is a good way to identify the potential players of the community. As we have seen, we have many good athletes. We will be pooling them, and they will serve as the main team for Apas,” said Apas Barangay Captain Ramil Ayuman.
Apas came out the overall winner of the first Community Children’s Games as it posted 186 points, most of which came from athletics, badminton, basketball, and chess.
Taking second place is Barangay Mabolo with 174 points, while Mambaling collared third place with 127 points. Talamban, the first-day leader, was relegated to fourth place in the overall ranking after raking in 115 points.
Meanwhile, Uy’s first major event as a commissioner may have received positive feedback, but the biggest one he got was that of Sister Mariz Renconada of the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart.
Renconada was going around the venue yesterday, observing the goings-on of the event. Renconada is one of the sisters running the My Bonita Home for Girls in Talamban.
Concerns
Although, she was just worried about the bad road leading to her institution, she felt the event is a good channel to help her kids, who experienced pain unheard of by all the others competing in the two-day event.
Renconada’s congregation is taking care of orphans, most of whom were victims of abuse. “I was looking around and I know it is a great endeavor. My kids will be joining it next year as it will be a good therapy for them. It will be good for them to have to interact with the other children,” she said.
“It has been my plan to put up an event that is especially catered to the underprivileged and out-of-school kids, and having to give the opportunity to them, who had a painful past, is just a good addition and we are looking forward to them playing in the games,” said Uy, who hopes to continue this event for as long as he is with the PSC. (MCB)
